PURPOSE: To obtain a new tetralin compound exhibiting smectic phase in a wide temperature range including room temperatures, excellent in (anti) ferroelectric properties and useful for, e.g. a display device or a light switch excellent in quick response, contrast stability, low consumption of electric power, etc.
CONSTITUTION: A compound of formula I [R1 is a group of the formula CkH2k+1CH(CH3) (CH2)mX [X is O or a single bond; (k) is 1 to 14; (m) is 0 to 12]; R2 is a group of the formula C*H(Y)CnH2n+1 [Y is CH3 or CF3; C* is an asymmetric carbon; (n) is 2 to 10]], e.g. 6-{4'-[(S)-2-methylbutyloxy]-4- biphenylcarbonyloxy}-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (R)-1- trifluoromethylheotyl ester. In the case of X=O, the compound of formula I is obtained by synthesizing a compound of formula II (R* is R2) using a 6- alkoxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid as the starting material and reacting a compound of formula III (RO is R1 in which X is O) therewith.
TATSUKI YUUICHIROU
NISHIYAMA SHINICHI
